Naruto SI: Kaito Red Lightnin Chapter 193 Extended
Author's Note:
Hey guys!
I added a bit more to this chapter to help foreshadow what's coming next. Hope you enjoy it!
Kaito raised an eyebrow and asked, "Yeah so what, why do people always act like being a shinobi makes us something different? It's just a profession. We're still human—that doesn't change. If there's something I can do about it, then I'm gonna do something about it."
The room went quiet.
Even Shikaku paused, watching him thoughtfully. Tsunade stared for a moment—then smirked faintly.
Fugaku cleared his throat. "If stealth is what you need, I suggest sending Shisui. He's the best we have for subtle recon."
Tsunade didn't even blink. She flicked her fingers once, and a masked ANBU dropped to one knee in front of them.
"Fetch Shisui Uchiha, Tokuma Hyūga, and Raidō Namiashi," she ordered. "Now."
With a silent flicker, the ANBU vanished.
Tsunade turned her gaze back to Kaito and Hotaru.
She let out a long breath. "As for you two—you're dismissed. The invitations for the Chūnin Exams have already gone out. From this point on, all the planning and coordination is your responsibility."
Hotaru bowed politely. "We'll do our best, Lady Hokage."
Kaito gave a small nod, eyes still slightly downcast. "Yeah…"
Without another word, Hotaru reached over, gently took Kaito's wrist, and pulled him along as they left the office.
The door clicked softly shut behind them.
…
The village was alive with its usual buzz—people chatting, walking, shopping. Kids laughed in the distance while shinobi passed by on patrol or errands.
On the main street, inside a popular little café, Kaito sat at a window seat, his cheek resting lazily on his hand as he stared out. Across from him sat Hotaru, her arms resting comfortably on the table. A waitress stood beside them, pen in hand, scribbling down their order.
"Is that all?" she asked, glancing between them.
Hotaru nodded, smiling politely. "Yes, that's all," she said, handing the menu back.
The waitress took it with a nod. "Alright then. Your order will be out shortly. Thank you!" She bowed lightly and walked off.
Kaito didn't move. His blue eyes were fixed on the busy street outside, watching villagers pass by, caught up in their lives. He let out a long, heavy sigh.
A folder sat unopened on the table between them.
Hotaru turned her attention back to him and rolled her eyes. "Quit being so dramatic, Kai-kun. It's not like it's the end of the world."
Kaito didn't even look at her at first. He just muttered, "You wouldn't get it, Hotaru... my days are numbered, ya know?" His voice was low, his expression distant.
Hotaru sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You're being ridiculous. You're just getting a big promotion. What's so bad about that? Most ninja would be thrilled to be named Hokage."
Kaito finally turned his head and looked at her, brows furrowed. "It's worse than that, ya know… I'm gonna be stuck in that damn office forever. Ya know what the worst part is?" He shuddered. "The paperwork. Ugh."
Hotaru raised an eyebrow but let him talk.
"You've never seen it, that's why you think it's no big deal," Kaito said, eyes wide like he was reliving a nightmare. "But I've seen it. The paperwork, it never ends, ya know. The more you do, the more shows up. I'm too young for that... ya know?"
He looked down, blinking quickly. "Everyone else's lives are gonna keep moving... and I'll be stuck behind a desk." His voice dropped to a whisper, his shoulders sinking. "I thought I had more time... ya know?"
Hotaru let out an exaggerated sigh and leaned forward, giving him a look. "Oh, come on, Kai-kun. Stop being so dramatic. You're not terminally ill or anything! And besides, if you really had that much paperwork, you could just make your clones do it."
Kaito turned his head slowly, giving her a flat look. "You're right... I could use my shadow clones," he said with a sigh, "but you forgot something."
Hotaru tilted her head. "Forgot what?"
Kaito looked her dead in the eye. "My shadow clones don't listen to me, ya know. Last time I tried to make them do paperwork, they went on strike—literally refused and dispelled themselves. Mom had to bribe them with food just to get them to help a little."
Hotaru blinked. "...Huh?" She stared at him, completely blank for a second.
'Oh right… I forgot sometimes his clones kinda have a mind of their own…'
She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. For once, she was at a loss for words.
Just then, the waitress returned, balancing their order with a cheerful smile.
"Here you go! Vanilla ice cream with dango delights and matcha tea for Miss Hyuga-san, and Mango Mochi Delight, Crispy Chicken Sando, and Genmaicha tea for Uzumaki-kun."
She placed the plates and cups gently in front of them.
Hotaru gave a polite smile and nodded. "Thank you!"
Kaito just gave a small nod. "Thank you," he muttered.
The waitress straightened up with a smile. "If you need anything, just let me know," she said before walking off.
Kaito let out a small sigh as he pulled the mango mochi closer. He picked up his spoon, cut off a piece, and put it in his mouth. He barely tasted it—his mind was somewhere else, still weighed down.
Across from him, Hotaru took a bite of her vanilla ice cream with dango, and her eyes lit up. "Mmm! This is really good, Kai-kun!"
Kaito just gave a soft "Huh-huh," and nodded vaguely, his eyes drifting back to the window. He didn't even notice the smile on her face.
Hotaru glanced at him, and the smile slowly faded. She let out a long sigh, setting her spoon down in her bowl. She leaned forward and gently reached across the table, turning Kaito's face to look at her.
"Kai-kun, please look at me."
He blinked, caught off guard, but didn't pull away.
"I know you're upset about Tsunade-sama naming you Hokage," she said softly. "And I know it's not just the paperwork. You're not worried about that. You're scared you're not the right choice… that maybe you're not ready yet. You're afraid you'll mess up and make things worse, right?"
Kaito swallowed, his throat tight. He didn't answer—but he didn't have to.
Hotaru smiled gently and kept her eyes on his. "But I know you, Kai-kun. If anyone can handle this, it's you. You never give up. You always find a way—no matter how hard it looks."
She gave his hand a small squeeze. "That's the you I grew up with. The one I believe in."
Then she shook her head, her voice growing stronger. "And you won't just be a good Hokage… I think you'll be the best Hokage this village has ever had."
Kaito's eyes widened slightly at Hotaru's words.
She had said everything he hadn't dared to admit out loud.
Yeah, the paperwork sucked—but that wasn't what scared him.
It was the responsibility.
The real weight of being Hokage.
Kaito never saw himself as a leader. On paper, sure, it sounded simple—give orders, make decisions, wear the hat. But in real life? It was nothing like that. Every decision carried the lives of others. Every mistake could mean someone not coming home.
He'd be responsible for the entire village.
For every shinobi.
Every civilian.
Every child.
And the politics… just thinking about it made his head spin.
'Thank god Danzo and the elders aren't around anymore,' he thought, a chill running down his spine.
Even still, it didn't change how scared he was. Scared that one wrong move could lead to disaster. That he could be the one to mess it all up.
In his heart, he felt like he belonged on missions, out in the field. Not behind a desk, making calls that could change lives.
Kaito's gaze met Hotaru's. She hadn't looked away—not once.
They just sat there, staring at each other for a moment, everything else fading into the background.
Then Kaito let out a quiet laugh, breaking the silence.
"…You know, Hotaru… I used to think only Mom could see through me like that," he said with a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "But you… you might actually know me just as well, ya know?"
He leaned in a little without realizing it.
Hotaru smiled gently. "Of course I do. I've been watching you for years, Kai-kun."
She leaned in too, almost without meaning to.
Kaito held her gaze, his voice quieter now. "Thanks… for saying all that. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear it, ya know."
They both leaned in just a little more.
Close enough to feel each other's breath.
Then, suddenly—almost like a switch flipped—they both seemed to realize just how close they were.
Their eyes widened in sync.
They quickly pulled back, both flustered.
Hotaru ducked her head, her cheeks flushed a soft pink. She grabbed her spoon again and stirred her ice cream, then said—just a bit too quickly, "It's… good."
Kaito cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck. "Y-yeah. This place is… really good, ya know."
They both glanced at each other, gave a quick, awkward smile… then looked away again.
A quiet moment passed between them—soft, a little warm, a little flustered.
Then Kaito's eyes drifted to the folder on the table, the one neither of them had touched since they sat down. The Hokage's wax seal was still intact.
He reached for it, grateful for the distraction. "Ah—right. The Chūnin Exam planning." He lifted it off the table. "We should probably go through this, ya know."
Hotaru let out a small laugh, still a little pink in the cheeks. "Good idea."
Kaito nodded, tapping the folder lightly with his fingers. "So… what are your thoughts on it, ya know? What do you think we should do with the exam?"
Hotaru blinked, tilting her head. "What do you mean? We conduct the Chūnin Exams, of course."
Kaito let out a small sigh and leaned back in his seat. "That's the thing… don't you think it's getting a little too repetitive? I mean, nothing's really changed, ya know. It's always the same pattern—written test with some twist, then the Forest of Death, then one-on-one fights."
He scooped up a bite of his mochi and popped it into his mouth before continuing. "Sure, the questions might change or the scrolls get shuffled around… but it's all the same stuff. Every time. Feels like we're just ticking boxes at this point."
Hotaru slowly nodded, thinking it over. "Yeah… when you put it like that, it does feel kind of stale." She paused, a little hesitant. "But… would Tsunade-sama even let us change it?"
Kaito smirked. "She gave it to us, didn't she? I don't think she cares how we run it, as long as we actually test for the important stuff—strategy, leadership, adaptability... all the things that really matter for a Chūnin."
Hotaru's eyes lit up a bit with curiosity. "Alright, fair point. So… what are you thinking?"
Kaito leaned forward, more animated now, his spoon forgotten in his hand. "We don't need to throw out the whole structure—just tweak it, ya know? Like, test one should still be about intel and making decisions under pressure. Test two's for teamwork and survival. And the last one, individual strength and strategy."
He paused, eyes lighting up as the idea formed more clearly. "But we can test them differently, ya know? We don't have to use the Forest of Death again. We can come up with something new, something that still pushes them the same way but in a different environment."
Hotaru nodded along, her fingers laced together as she thought it through. "Makes sense… actually, this sounds exciting."
Just then, Kaito's eyes drifted to the window, and he paused mid-thought.
"Huh?" He leaned slightly, squinting. "Hey, isn't that…?"
He pointed with his spoon.
Hotaru turned to look.
Outside the café, Itachi Uchiha was walking calmly beside Izumi. The two of them looked relaxed, chatting quietly as they made their way down the street.
Kaito stood up and tapped the glass lightly. "Oi! Itachi! Izumi!"
Both turned at the sound. Itachi gave a small wave and a faint smile, while Izumi grinned and waved back.
Kaito motioned for them to come in, and a moment later, the door chimed as they stepped inside.
"Itachi, Izumi," Kaito greeted, waving them over. "Come sit!"
Itachi nodded politely as he and Izumi walked over. "Kaito. Hotaru. It's been a while," he said calmly, sitting down beside Kaito.
Izumi slid into the seat next to Hotaru. "Hello," she said brightly. Her eyes flicked between them, then she teased with a smirk, "You two out on a date or something?"
Both Kaito and Hotaru stiffened at once.
"W-Wha—n-no, no, it's not like that!" Hotaru stammered, her face turning pink.
Kaito waved his hand quickly. "Yeah, it's not a date or anything, ya know. We were just talking about work!"
Izumi giggled, clearly amused by their reactions. "Sure, sure."
Kaito cleared his throat, eager to steer the conversation away. He gestured to the folder on the table. "Actually… Lady Tsunade put us in charge of organizing the upcoming Chūnin Exams. We were just tossing around ideas, ya know."
Itachi raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. "Chūnin Exams, huh?"
Izumi blinked in surprise. "Wait, you two are in charge of this year's exams?"
Hotaru nodded. "Yeah. Lady Tsunade just assigned it to us. We were discussing how to run it." She glanced at Kaito and smiled. "Kai-kun here wants to shake things up a bit."
Izumi tilted her head. "Change it? Why?"
Kaito leaned back in his seat, casually picking up his sandwich. "Because, ya know… Konoha's been doing the same old tests since the village was founded. It's kinda boring."
He took a bite and chewed before continuing.
Izumi nodded thoughtfully. "Okay… yeah, you've got a point."
Itachi looked intrigued now. "So, what do you have in mind?"
Kaito shrugged. "We're still figuring it out. We're keeping the core of the exam the same—each test still checks for the same qualities a Chūnin needs: decision-making, teamwork, survival, individual strength… all that."
He leaned forward again, more animated now. "But we're thinking of changing how they're tested. Like, for the second stage, instead of using the Forest of Death again… what if we ran a large-scale simulation?"
Hotaru nodded beside him, listening as he went on.
"Like a 'capture the flag' scenario," Kaito said. "Where each team has to defend their own base and try to take the opponent's base too. Or a simulated mission—one team escorts a client, the other team tries to eliminate the target. Something like that. It still tests teamwork, pressure handling, survival skills... just in a different way, ya know?"
Izumi tapped her chin. "Huh… that actually sounds kind of fun."
Itachi nodded slightly. "That could be interesting. What about the first test?"
Kaito blinked, scratching the back of his head. "The first? No clue. Like Hotaru said, we just got assigned this, so we haven't really had time to think it through yet." He looked at Itachi. "What about you? Got any ideas for the first task?"
Itachi paused for a moment, thinking it over, then gave a small nod. "I think you should set up a scenario where each team is given limited intel—some of it true, some of it false—and a strict time limit. The goal is to gather information, make a decision, and choose whether to act or pull back. Every option leads to consequences. If they act too rashly, they fail. If they do nothing, they also fail."
He looked at all three of them, calm and composed. "It forces them to assess risk, read the situation, and make judgment calls—just like a real mission."
Izumi's eyes lit up. "That's actually brilliant!"
Hotaru nodded slowly, clearly impressed. "Yes… that sounds like an intense and realistic simulation."
Kaito nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "Yeah, that would work really well. You'd get to see how they handle pressure… make real decisions in the moment."
Then he glanced over at Itachi. "Hey, Itachi… how about you be the proctor for the first task?"
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
"Yeah," Kaito said with a grin. "You came up with the idea. And let's be honest—you've got that whole intimidating vibe down to a pat, ya know? You'd be perfect for it."
Itachi was quiet for a moment, considering it. Then he gave a small nod. "I guess I can do it. I don't really take on many missions these days anyway. I'll just have to inform my father that I'm taking a short leave from the police force."
Hotaru turned to Izumi next. "What about you, Izumi? We need help organizing everything. We could really use your help."
Izumi smiled brightly. "I wouldn't mind. It actually sounds kind of fun. We should also bring in Hana."
Hotaru nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking the same."
With that, the four of them leaned in and continued tossing around ideas.
A few hours later, they finally wrapped up their meeting.
Kaito parted ways with the others outside the café. Hotaru and Izumi were heading off to track down Hana and ask her to join the team. Itachi was going to speak with his father about taking leave from the Konoha Police Force to oversee the first stage of the exams.
Kaito, on the other hand, had somewhere else to be.
'I should go check in on Mom and the others,' he thought, slipping his hands into his pockets as he started walking. 'They're probably still training…'
Before heading over to the training grounds, Kaito made a quick stop at a food stall. He bought a box of fresh mochi, some dango, a couple of bottles of cold drinks, and a few warm taiyaki—just enough to share.
With the bag in hand, Kaito made his way toward the training field.
…
In the wide clearing near the Uzumaki residence than kaito used to train, there were sounds of groaning and heavy breathing.
Kushina stood tall in the center, hands on her hips, red hair tied back in a high ponytail that swayed slightly in the breeze. She was dressed in the standard Konoha jōnin uniform, her expression sharp as she looked down at the five figures collapsed around her.
"Hey! Come on, get up!" she called out, frowning. "We're not even halfway through the training, ya know!"
Naruto groaned, lying flat on his back, arms sprawled out beside him. "I can't feel my legs… ya know…"
Karin was slumped over, trying to catch her breath. "Aunt Kushina… maybe we could tone it down a bit? We're not used to this kind of training…"
Haku was barely standing, his arms limp at his sides, sweat dripping from his brow. "Lady Kushina… I'm sorry, but… can we please rest for a while…?"
Even stoic Kimimaro was sitting on the ground, breathing heavily. He tried to push himself up, but his legs trembled and gave out, sending him crashing back down.
Guren, arms wrapped around herself, looked like she'd seen death. "I told you I didn't have a good feeling about this… If I do any more, I swear I'm going to have a heart attack."
Kushina blinked at them all, genuinely confused. "Eh? Why are you guys acting like this? I don't feel a thing—and I haven't trained in ten years, ya know!"
Her eyes narrowed with a mischievous glint. "Now quit whining and get up—or I'll throw in chakra suppression seals and boulder runs next!"
Everyone froze.
Their pale faces said it all.
Just then, a soft rustle came from above, and Kaito landed gracefully on a tree branch overlooking the scene. He sweatdropped at the sight of the utterly broken group below.
Kaito sighed from his perch and shook his head, watching the chaos below. 'Mom's really ran them into the ground today, huh…' he thought.
With a light hop, he jumped down from the tree branch and landed softly on the grass, drawing everyone's attention.
"Yo," he greeted casually with a lazy wave.
The moment they saw him, all five of them lit up like they'd seen salvation.
"Kaito-nii! Help us, please!"
"Aunt Kushina has gone mental!"
"Big bro, please—Mom's trying to kill us, ya know!"
Kaito sweatdropped at the chorus of desperate voices.
Meanwhile, Kushina's eye twitched.
"Hey! I'm right here, ya know!" she shouted, clearly not pleased.
Kaito laughed nervously and scratched his cheek. "Uh, Mom… maybe give them a bit of a break, ya know? They look like they're about to pass out."
Kushina looked at him and let out a sigh. "I don't get it… These kids have been training for years. I haven't trained in a decade, and I'm still outpacing all of them, ya know. I don't understand."
Kaito stepped beside her and smiled. "That's 'cause your body's at its peak right now, Mom. You're in your physical prime—stronger than ever."
Kushina blinked. "Huh? Then why did Tsuna-nee tell me to 'sharpen my skills'?"
Kaito shrugged. "Well, you've still got two years until Naruto graduates, so there's time. And yeah, you are in your best shape physically, but that doesn't mean your reflexes or instincts aren't a bit rusty, ya know."
Kushina paused, then nodded thoughtfully. "Ohh, I see…" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "I guess I might've gone a little overboard, huh? Sorry about that, guys."
Naruto grumbled under his breath. "Oh, now she understands…"
The others all nodded along in tired agreement.
Kushina's eyes slowly narrowed as she turned toward her youngest.
"What was that, Naruto-chan?" she asked sweetly.
Naruto sat up straight, eyes wide. "N-Nothing! I didn't say anything, ya know!"
Kaito chuckled and opened up the bag he'd brought with him. "Anyway… I brought some stuff for everyone. Mochi, dango, taiyaki, and drinks."
The group visibly perked up.
They all sat down together under the shade of a nearby tree. Kushina pulled out a lunch basket she had packed earlier, full of homemade food. With the training break officially declared, they spread everything out and began to relax.
As they finished eating, Kushina's eyes suddenly lit up. Her expression turned mischievous. "So… how about a spar?"
Kaito glanced at her, one brow raised, already sensing where this was going. "You sure?" he asked, a playful grin creeping onto his face.
Kushina cracked her knuckles and smirked. "What? Scared of your mom now, Kai-kun?"
Kaito stood up and casually dusted his hands. "Not scared. Just wondering if you're ready to lose to your baby boy, ya know."
Naruto, who had been half-asleep from eating too much, shot up. "Wait—you two are gonna spar?!"
Karin's eyes sparkled. "This is gonna be good…"
Even Guren, who had been lying flat on her back minutes ago, pulled herself up with interest. "Finally, something worth seeing."
Kimimaro and Haku exchanged quiet glances but said nothing, both clearly interested.
Kaito stepped away from the picnic blanket, stretching his arms with a light twist of his shoulders. "Alright then, Mom. Let's see what you've got."
Kushina stood too, tying her long red ponytail a little tighter, her grin widening. "Don't go easy on me, ya know."
Kaito smirked, his blue eyes glinting. "I was gonna say the same thing."
A while later…
Kaito hung upside down in midair, completely wrapped up in Kushina's chakra chains, his arms and legs bound tightly as he was brought closer to her.
Guren stared, wide-eyed. "She… she won?"
Karin's mouth hung open. "Kai-nii actually lost…"
Naruto rubbed his face and sighed. "He let her win, you know... ugh."
Haku nodded. "Still, it's impressive. Kaito-nii-san is the strongest shinobi in the village. Even if he was holding back, it still shows how strong Lady Kushina is."
Kimimaro stated in his usual calm tone, "Yes… and Kushina-sama's control over the chakra chains is more refined than Kaitou nii-sama's. And she has had more experience using them."
On the battlefield, Kushina stood tall, hands on her hips, her grin wide and proud.
"So?" she said, looking up at her dangling son. "What do you think? Your mom's still got it, huh?"
Kaito let out a breathless chuckle. "Yeah… I kind of underestimated you. My bad." He twisted slightly, feeling the blood rush to his head. "Now, would you please let me down, you know?"
Kushina smirked, shaking her head. "Nope! This is your punishment for not taking me seriously, ya know. I'm gonna keep you like this until we get back home."
Kaito paled. "Wait—what?! Hey, c'mon now, don't do that! I'm already startin' to get dizzy, ya know!"
Kushina let out an evil little chuckle.
Without warning, more chakra chains burst out from her back.
Before the others could even react, they were all snatched up—lifted off the ground one by one, arms and legs tangled in the glowing golden-red bindings.
"Wha—hey!" Karin yelped.
"Kushina-sama?!" Haku called out, caught mid-air.
Even Kimimaro's eyes widened slightly as he was pulled up effortlessly.
Guren shrieked. "This is not what I signed up for!"
Kushina laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "Next time, all of you better take my training seriously, ya know!"
Kaito groaned, still upside down. "This is so unfair, ya know…"
...
Later that night…
The full moon hung high above the sleeping Village Hidden in the Leaves, illuminating the rooftops and trees in a pale glow.
Inside the Uzumaki residence, Kaito sat at his desk, scribbling down notes, he was brainstorming and hashing out a few ideas for the upcoming Chūnin Exams.
After scribbling down a final thought, he leaned back in his chair and stretched, letting out a tired yawn.
"What time is it…" he muttered. glancing up at the clock on his wall.
The hands pointed just past midnight.
Kaito gave a small nod to himself and stood up, stretching again. "Mom and the others must be asleep by now, ya know…"
He stepped out of his room and padded quietly down the hall toward the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he grabbed the pitcher and poured himself a glass of water.
As he lifted it to his lips, Kaito froze, his eyes widening. hearing a soft sniffle sound from outside the house. He paused for a second, then let out a small sigh. As he recognized the chakra signature.
finishing his drink, He set the glass in the sink and quietly made his way toward the source of the sound.
He stepped onto the garden patio, the cool night air brushing against his skin.
There, sitting alone on the wooden deck under the moonlight, was his mother.
Kushina sat with one leg tucked under her and the other loosely draped over the edge of the seat. She was staring up at the moon, her arms resting on her knee. Her long red hair fell over her shoulder in soft waves, catching the moonlight.
'Huh… what's she doing out here this late, ya know…' Kaito thought as he quietly walked over.
Hearing footsteps, Kushina turned slightly. When she saw it was Kaito, she gave him a small, tired smile and quickly wiped her eyes before waving him over.
Kaito approached, yawning mid-step. "What are you doing out here, Mom?" he asked as he sat down beside her, frowning slightly.
Kushina smiled at him, her voice gentle. "I couldn't sleep, ya know… so I came out here for some air." She glanced at him. "What about you, Kai-kun? What're you doing up so late?"
Kaito yawned again, stretching his arms out in front of him. "Just finished something for the Chūnin Exams. Went to get some water, then I heard you, you almost gave me a heart attack, ya know. Thought it was a ghost or something."
Kushina chuckled softly. "Hehe… sorry about that."
Kaito gave her a playful glare. "Haha, laugh it up…"
Kushina giggled. "You should go get some sleep, Kai-kun."
He shook his head, his expression softening. "Nah… I'll keep you company."
Kushina smiled and shook her head fondly. She patted her lap. "Then rest your head here."
Kaito didn't argue. He leaned over and laid his head in her lap, adjusting until he was comfortable. Looking up at her face, his tone turned quiet. "You okay, Mom?"
Kushina let out a soft sigh, her fingers beginning to gently brush through his hair. "It's nothing… I was just thinking about your father, ya know."
Kaito yawned again, blinking slowly. "Another nightmare?"
Kushina gave a small nod, not speaking, just humming softly under her breath as her fingers continued to glide through his hair.
Kaito's eyelids grew heavier yawning. "Just a…" he mumbled, his voice trailing off as sleep took him.
Kushina kept brushing his hair, her eyes soft.
She looked down at him, asleep on her lap—his expression calm, peaceful.
Leaning forward slightly, she pressed a kiss to his forehead.
"Thank you, Kai-kun," she whispered.
And under the full moon, with the village fast asleep, Kushina stayed right there—watching over her son, just like she always had.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the house…
The pale light of the moon poured through a bedroom window, casting a soft glow over Naruto as he lay asleep in his bed.
But his face was tense—his brow scrunched, sweat beading on his skin.
He squirmed beneath the blanket, his breath shallow.
"No… no…" Naruto muttered in his sleep, gripping his pillow tightly, his head twitching from side to side.
Then, suddenly, he jolted upright with a loud gasp, chest heaving as he panted for breath. His eyes darted around the room, wide and filled with lingering fear.
"Wha… what was that…?" he whispered to himself, swallowing hard.
He looked around again, slowly realizing he was still in his room. Safe.
Letting out a shaky sigh, Naruto lay back down, his arms resting over his stomach as he stared up at the ceiling. "Was that… real?"
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